Retracting outboard propulsion and steering means for inboard engine boats



Oct. 13, 1959 c. E. ERICKSON 2,908,243

RETRACTING OUTBOARD PROPULSION AND STEERING MEANS FOR INBOARD ENGINE BOATS Filed April 27, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY M/W Oct. 13, 1959 c. E. ERICKSON 2,908,243

RETRACTING OUTBOARD PROPULSION AND STEERING MEANS FOR INBOARD ENGINE BOATS Filed April 27, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. (544E155? Ham 5'0 BY M, (.4 1M

,4 fromverf Oct. 13, 1959 c. E. ERICKSON 2,908,243

RETRACTING OUTBOARD PROPULSION AND STEERING MEANS FOR INBOARD ENGINE BOATS Filed April 27, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 694E055 6 69/61 30 Mfm ya Oct. 13,1959 3 E R c soN 2,903,243

RETRACTING OUTB OAND PROPULSION AND STEERING MEANS FOR INBOARD ENGINE BOATS Filed April 27, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 66 an; gun 4 *9 nl mm! g y 64 g I g v2 a w 66 INVENTOR. Cl/APZES' E [P/C'KSWA/ & v

United States Patent Ofiice RETRACTING OUTBOARD PROPULSION AND STEERING FOR' INBOARD ENGINE BOATS I Charles Erickson, Seattle, Wash.

Application April 27-, 1956, Serial No. 581,077

' l7-Claims. Cl. 115-41 This invention relates to improvements in' propulsion and steering means for boats having inboard engines, and a general object of the invention is to provide such a means which makes'possible effectively combining certain advantages of outboard .motors,namely portability and versatility, with the comparative quietness, efiiciency and' reliability "afiorded' by inboard engines. The invention is herein illustratively describedby reference to the presently preferred form thereof; however, it"will be recognized that certain changesand modifications therein may be made Without departing from the essential or characterizing features involved."

i A broad-object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in transom-mounted retracting outboard propulsion units for inboard enginefboats, wherein the unit may be retracted conveniently and by remote control while m'a'intaining both theengine drive connections and the steering connections thereto.

A more specific object is such a unit provided with positioning means holding the same in its normal operating'position against displacement forcesincident to normal operation thereof, but which means are adapted to slip or yield in order to allow the unit to retract under impact, and thereby avoid breakage in the event of collision with submerged logs or' other underwater objects'. I

Further objects include the provision of such a unit having novel and effective-remotely controlled power operated means for moving the same between normal position and retracted position, and remotely controlled steering means. I w

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of such a'unit and vcontrol means-therefor which is compact, rugged; reliable, convenient to operate and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. These and other objects together with the novel featuresand-advanta'ges characterizing the invention will become morev fully evident from the following description thereof by reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure'l is a side view, partly in longitudinal section, of thestern portion of a boat incorporatingthe novel retracting. .outboard propulsion. and steering unit connected to an inboard engine and provided with controls for operating the same, 1 1- Figure 2 is a transverse, sectional view taken on line 2-2 in Figure 1,, particularly, illustrating the propulsion unit positioning means.

' port and drive assembly Figure 3 is a sectional detail on line in Figure 2.

Figure} is a stern view of a boat having the installation- "I Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary'stern view showing the steering means on the unit which permits movement of such unit between normal and retracted positions while maintaining the steering connections thereto. Figured is a transverse sectional view taken on 'line 6-'6 in 'Figu-re lfillustrating particularly the mechanism 'for shifting the transmission between forward and reverse drivepositions." I.

Figure 7 is a simplified side view 'ofremote control apparatus for coordinated engine throttle control and propulsion unit transmission position control, and for remote control of the power operated means for mov-v ing the unit between retracted and normal positions.

Figure s is a view similar toFigure 7 with the con-f trol elements in different settings. V I,

Figure 9 is a stern view of a boat incorporating; a modified and less preferred retracting outboardpropub sion unit. V I A Figure 10 is a side view of the stern portion ofthe boat incorporating the modified unit, shown byssolid lines in its normal fully retracted position.

Referring to Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, the .b o at majyi be assumed to be of conventional construction havingfthe usual stern transom T forminga part of the hull.- The.

The engine 10 is preferablyof the separately lubricated four-cycle type, although the invention is notlimited in scope to the particular form of inboard engine employed.

The retracting outboard propulsion and steering unit to which the engine 10is drivingly connected comprises the elongated propeller support and drive housing lfi which in form preferably resembles the lower propeller support and drive housing structure employed in modern} day efiicient outboard motors, This support and housing means comprises an upper section, including the gear case 20, and a lower section including the propeller sup- 22. The lower section has a sleeve 24 on its upper end which fits rotatably' within a sleeve 26 projecting downwardly from the upper" section so as to permit rotation/of the lower sectionrelative to the upper section about the longitudinal normally vertical axis thereof. This axis is concentric to the vertical transmission shaft 28 through'the housing means 18. p p t I A propeller 30 is mounted'on a shaft 32 in'suitable bearings in the lower end of the support and housing means 18 and is driven by a bevel gear 34 fixed on the horizontal shaft 32 and meshing'with a bevel gear 36 fixed on the lower end of the vertical transmission shaft 28. Suitable seals and packing elements are providedto make the propeller support and drive assembly 22 completely waterproof within its housing. A horizontal deflector plate 38 is mounted on the support and housing means 18 above the propeller 30. i

The sleeve 24 comprises part of a fitting is secured by bolts 40 to the remainder of the lower section the steering arrangement for the unit. Theiupper end'of the sleeve 24 carries a stop nut 44 threaded thereon to hold the sleeve against retraction downwardly fromthc surrounding collary26. A countershaft 46, aligned with the transmissionshaft 28, isjournaled in bearings 'inounted in the upperend of thesleeve- 24 and in the plug 48 'iboltedto the top of the gear case 20, as shown. A splined sleeve 50 rotatively interconnects the abutting ends lolf the shafts 28 and 46 for producing conjoint rotaticiin thereof while permitting endwise separation of the shafts Patented Oct. 13, 1 9 5.9

position and by broken lines in its;

which extends lengthwise reverse drive positions.

1 gaging'thoseof the shaft.

l ar mounting base 64'must be perpendicular tom portion of the support and housing means 18.

The transmission employed in the unit is of the reversible type having aneutral position and forward and For this purpose the countershaft 46 has a splined central portion 46a engaged by the drive reversing element or. collar 52 having splines slidably en- 7 This collar rotateswith the shaft and is free to slide lengthwise thereof under control of the gear shift yoke 54 embracing the reduced central section of the collar, as shown in Figures 1 and 6.

A bevel gear 56 is mounted to rotate freely on the upper part f shaft 46 and another bevel gear 58 is similarly mounted on the lower portion of the shaft 46. These bevel gears are adapted tonbe 'dr'ivingly engaged by the respectively adjacent ends of the drive reversing collar 52. -The two bevel gears 56 and 58,mesh continuously with a third bevel gear 60 mounted on the driveshaft62 which project's-forwardly from the gear case 20 irialignment with-the engine output shaft 12, and is connected to the latter for drive purposes. Thus the two bevel gears.

are rotated-in relatively opposite directions and by shifting the reversing collar 46a up or down"from'its intermediate or neutral "position into engagement with one or the other of the bevel gears 56 or 58 the propeller 30 v r 4. i

86. A boss 88 projects forwardly from this base and serves as a rigid stop engaging one edge of the lever arm 80 in its normal position; The opposite edge of the lever armis engaged and held (Figure 3) by a retractable spring-actuated latch 90 mounted on a pivot pin 92 between two flanges 94 projecting in parallel relationship from the front side of the'detent base. A spring 96 socketed in a recess: in the detent base acts'outwardly on the latch to hold the same in its extended position, which position is established by contact between a flatsurface 98 on the latch and an underlying abutment surface on V the base 84, as shown in Figure 3. Thus,- the lever arm a ,7 80 is trapped normally between the shoulder of the boss 88' and the adjacent end portion of the latch 90.

1 For purposes of moving the lever arm 80 in order to swing the outboard propulsion unit between normal and retracted positions, a vacuum operated jack 100 is provided, having,a cylinder member 102 and a piston member 104, including a pistonfrod 104a provided with a. coupling; yoke 104b on itsfree end; {The piston rod, is connected tolever 80 for swiuging the same back and forth'by extension and retraction of the jack. The cylinmay be driven'in either the forward or reverse-drive sense.

, The support and housing means 18 is mounted by 'its upper section, namely by the gear case 20, on a mounting base 64. The mounting arrangement is such that the unit is permitted to swing about an axis coincident with the axis of drive shafts 62 and 12. The mounting base. 64 comprises an annular member secured by bolts 66 to the stern side of the transom T at a relative angle which I disposes it in a substantially vertical plane with the boat trimmed and underway.

Suitable shim means 68 may be provided for that purpose, if necessary, depending upon the angle of the transom in relation to the longitudin'al axis of the boat. Of course, the plane of the annution 70 rigidly mounted thereon, which isrotatably received within and is supported by theannular mounting base 64. To thisfend thesleeveportion 70 has a base flange'72' which is reduced in diameter at 74 adjacent the forward face of the gear case 20 in order to accommodateastep'in the diameter of the inside rim of the annular mounting'base 64. The latter serves as a support or journal for the. annular base of the sleeve portion 70 andmaintains its flange 72 in slidable contact with'the outside face of the shim means 68. The specific detail'sof this mounting arrangement may vary as long as the unit isrjournalled to swing about the common axis of shafts .12 and 62. {The flange portion 70 projects forwardly through a hole in the transom T and carries internal bearings and an internal :journal sleeve 71 forthe The positioning means for the retractable outboard I propulsion'unit comprises the split clamp band 76 tightto the come Figures 7 and der control of the four-way valve control panel 112 aslshown in,

der has conduits;106,and 1 08 connected to its respective: opposite end portions for application of 'suction and introduction of atmospheric air alternatively thereto mi 110. ,The latter is mounted .on the remote 8. A vacuum tube 114 is connected between the common port ofthevalve 110,and the cartburetor manifold; (not shown) of the engine :10 for applying suction to the end of the jack cylinder 102 which is connected-to the" conduit 114 by the valve 110. A port .110 inthe valve wall communicates with the atmosphere to permit air under atmospheric pressure to enter the end of the jack cylinder opposite that which is at any instant subjected to the suction of the engine manifold. It is found that with a pneumatic jack of thistype, so operated, ample force is readily developed to.

move the outboard propulsion unit between-its two positions as desired with components of relatively compact form and arrangement.

7 The piston rod yoke 104b is connected tothe lever arm 80 by a T-shaped link 116, one end of which is connected ;by a pivot 118 to the yoke; The intermediate arm120 of, the T-shaped link is connectedbya pivot 122 to the outer end of the lever arm 80. ,-The third arm 124 projects therefrom'in relatively offset relationship so as to serve as an actuating element for the latch 90 and to swing into abutment with the'edge of lever 80. Thus when the valve 110 is Jpbsitionedto -sub-* ject the jack cylinder 102 to differential pressures in" a sense to draw the lever arm from its solid-line position" toward :its broken-line position in Figure 2 there is an ened around the'forwardly projecting end of the sleeve portio'n70. bybolts 78- in order to friction-ally grip such sleeve portion; and hold-the same against rotation by'normai operating forces exerted thereon by the propulsion qunit'. Howevjer, the frictional grip permits the sleeve portion to rotate within the clamp band in response, to'mipact forces applied to the propulsion unit generally in a; direction .to swing'the same about 7 the common axis erably on the side of the'boattransom T by bolts initial lost motion executed by the 'piston' member and the link 116, duringwhich the linkswings from its solidline position toward its' broken-line position In 'so doing, the link arm'124 l depresses the latch -90'-(Figure 3),- then-comes into limiting abutment with the ad -i jacent [side offthe lever arm $80. .when suchf latter abutment takes place, the'link 1'16 becomes an efiective part of the lever arm, whereby further "retraction movement of the piston member "draws theilever arm toward its broken-line position as shown in 'LFigure T 2.

This retracts the outboard propulsion'unit so as to swing the lower end thereofinto retracted position preferably above the boat hull bottom, as shown in Figure A manually released detent 126, may -be,,provided,- mounted'on the transom,"toengage-the leveri arm and hold it in its displaced position corresponding to the retractedfposition' of the propulsion unit', aslshown Figure Z. fThe detent 126 includes-a fixed abutment element 128 and a'spring-actuated, butretractable abut:

ment element 130, urged'outwardly by aspring 132 much in the manner of the spring-actuated latchtw infigure 3r In order to move the outboard propulsion ,unit from its retracted position to its normal position, the fourway valve 110 is positionedto establish differential pressures in the jack cylinder 102 for advancing the piston rod 104a from its broken-line position toward its solidline position shown in Figure 2. During the initial portion'of this movementthe link 116 swings relative to the lever arm 80 and to the piston rod yoke 104b, until the base of the yoke is abutted by the edge of the link in the relationship shown by solid lines in Figure 2. Thereupon further extension movement of the piston member swings the lever arm toward its solid-line position wherein it passes the latch 90 to become engaged and held thereby. r

As previously mentioned, shifting of gears between the forward and reverse drive positions of the transmission unit is effected by movement of the shifting element or collar 46a up or down in the gear case 20 by the action of the yoke 54. Such yoke is secured between lock nuts 134 on the threaded portion of a shifting rod 136 slidably retained in recessed plugs 138 and 140 repectively threaded in the top and bottom walls of the gear case 20. This rod has a pin 142 which projects laterally from the rod into an elongated slot 144 formed in an operating lever 146. The lever is mounted at one end by a pin 148 on brackets 150 to swing about a horizontal axis parallel to the common axis of shafts 12 and 62 in order to shift the rod 136 up or down. The tube of a Bowden wire 152 is secured to the gear case 20 and the wire itself is connected to the swinging end of the lever 146, as shown in Figure 6. The Bowden wire extends to the control panel 112.

At the control panel 112 the engine control Bowden wire 116 is connected to a sliding control element 154, and the Bowden wire 152 is connected to a slidingcom trol element 156. These two control elements are slidably received between parallel guides'on the support plate 158 of the control panel. The sliding control element 154 is actuated along its guides by a lever 160 pivoted at 162 and connected to the element '154 by a slotan'd-pin connection 164. The control element 156 is similarly actuated by a lever 166 mounted on the same pivot 162 and connected to such control element by a slot-in-pin connection 168.

Control of the engine throttle and shifting elements is coordinated so as to avoid possible transmission dam: age due to shifting of'gears with the engine operating at excessively high speed or due to operating the engine at excessive speeds with the-transmission out of neutral but not fully in either drive position. For this purpose the lower or pivoted end of the lever 166 has an arm 170 projecting laterallytherefrom into a notch 172 formed inthe edge of a slide plate 174 guided by the slot-and-pin guides 176 to move lengthwise of itself in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement "of the control elements 154 and 156. The end of the control element 154 adjacent the slide plate 174 has a longitudinal projection 178 adapted to enter any one of three notches 180, 182 and 184 formed in successive arrangement in the adjacent edge of the slide plate 174. These notches are so positioned along the length of the slide plate 174 that the intermediate notch 182 is aligned with and engageable by'the projection 178 when the lever arm 166 is in the neutral position. 7 The notch 180 is aligned with and engageable by the projection 178 when the lever 166 is inone of the drive positions, and the notch 184 is aligned with and engageable by such projection when such lever is in the other drive position. i

1 The projection 178 enters one or the other of these notches only asthe speed control lever 160 is advanced toward-the higher speed settings. When the control element 154 is in a' high speed setting,- causing the engine to" operate at high speed, andthe projection, 178 is received in one of'the notches, the 'slide plate 174 is then locked against movement and is therebyetfective' to lock the lever 166 against movement so as to prevent shifting of gears. This result is, of course, due to the fact that the projections formed between the notches in plate 174 abut one side or the other of the projection178received in any such notch. Likewise, the presence of these=pro-- jections between the notches 180, 182 and-184, prevents the speed control lever 160 from being-advancedxtoua high speed setting when the shifting-collar 46a is only partly advanced from neutral toward ,a definite drive position, since the tip of projection 178 abutstheends of the projections on plate 174 between the-notches'and prevents advance of the speed control lever. Thisinterlock feature provided by the transversely movable notched plate 174 prevents damage to the transmission. Stop screws 180a, 182a and 18411 project into the bases of the correspondingly numbered notches by adjustable amounts in order to establish the permissibledepth of penetration into such notches of the projection 178. a

In Figure 7 the speed control lever 160 is retracted to a. low speed setting and it is possiblewto shift gears by movement of the lever 166. I In Figure 8 the shifting lever 166 is vinan intermediate position wherein the transmission is neither in neutral nor in a definite drive setting, and it is now'im'possible to advance the speed control lever 160 to ,a high-speed setting because of the abutment between the projection178 and the projection on the slide plate 174 between the notches 180-.and 182;

In order to steer the boat the lower section of the propeller support and drive housing means 18 is rotatable about a vertical axis relative to the upper section thereof, as previously mentioned. For this purpose the lower section has a rearwardly and upwardly projecting bracket 42. This bracket carriesa' pin 186 which is substantially aligned with the common axis of the shafts12. and 62 and which pivotally' supports the block 188. thereon'to revolve about such axis. The block-.has apertured ears 190 on opposite sides thereof disposed in a vertical plane which are loosely. engaged by loops'192 carried insa horizontal plane by the yokes 194 of pulleys 196. 1 Steering control cables 198 extend around these pulleys from take-up vsprings 200 :anchored to the rear side of the transom, to 'a steering wheel (not shown), by way of. suitable guides'such as the pulleys 202. The cableswrap around thesteering wheel drum oppositelyinthe usual manner so'that turning of the wheel'draws in one .cable while unreeling the other; This action causes the propulsion unit lowersection' to'be turned for :steering purposes. A novel feature of the disclose'darran'gement in-. cluding the pulley block 188 pivoted on a'n-axiscom'mon to the shafts 12 and 62 is that with the arm 42 in central or straight-ahead position:the arrangement permits retraction of the propoulsion unit without disturbing the steering connections or even appreciably rotating the steering wheel of the boat. Retraction is also permitted in other positions of the arm 42, although steering cable tension may vary accompanied by limitedturningoof the steering wheel, the amounts depending upon the position of the arm at the time, yet suchamounts will be: mini'-'. mum withthe chosen location of pivot pin 186 in normal alignment with the tilt-upaxis ofthe unit.- Offset-of the axis of pin 186 with respect to the shafts12, and ,62may be permitted, but has the effect of causing the steering wheel; of the boat to be rotated accompanying movement of the propulsion unit between its retracted and normal positions even with the arm 42inits Preferably, therefore, the pulley block 188 is normally pivotedon an axis substantially in-the vicinityofwthe common axis of shafts 12 and 62, and desirably is aligned therewith.- 1*

When in storage or ,in transityor. when the boat is beached, the outboard propulsion unit is secured in its centered position.

operating position as shown Figure 4, the retracted unit is protected against damage and against interference with handling or movement of the boat.-.. In order to move the unit'to its normal or by dotted lines in Figure 4 and as shown in Figure 1,, the detent latch 130 is manually (or otherwise) released, and the unit is either drawndown by manual force, with the valve 110 properly positioned topermit such movement, or the engine is started and negative pressure is applied to the appropriate side of the piston member 104, asby positioning the valve as in Figure 8, in order to forcibly lower the unit. When the unit reaches its normal or lowered operating position, the lever arm 80 passes over the spring-actuated latch 90 and is thus locked in place by the detent 82. Y The frictional grip between-the clamp member 76 and the sleeve portion 70 is adequate to hold the unit in this normal position against normal operating forces. However, should-the unit strike a submerged log or other underwater object obliquely, as is normally the case with most impacts, slippage taking place between theclamp member'76 and sleeve portion 70-permits the unit to be swung upwardly and thus avoid damage thereto. With the unit in its norinal'operating position, manipulation of the interlock-controlled levers'160 and 166controls engine speed and drive position of the transmission. J It willlbe noted that by rigidly mounting the unit so. that it can onlypivot about a longitudinal axis ofrthe boat; shifting of gears does not cause the unit to be swung forward: or backward due-to sudden application of propeller force as vhappens with conventional outboard motors. Moreover, no interlock is necessary to hold the propulsion 'unit down when the unit is placed in reverse gear, as. is customarily-required in the case of an outboard motor so as to prevent the motor from climbing up when speed is increased in reverse gear setting.

-'In the modification shown in Figures 9 and 10 the inboard :engine 201 is mounted with its drive shaft 203 extending athwartships. The upper section 204' of the 1 propeller support and drive housing 206 is carried by a mounting base 208 securedon the, back side of the transom to permit such support and housing to pivot about a transverse axis. A pulley 212 mounted on the engine shaft isencircIed by belts 214 driving the pulley 216 comprising part of the drivemeans for the propulsion unit. 7 The driven pulley 216 is mounted on a 'drive shaft concentric with the axis 210.. For steering. purposes, the lower section 218 off-the support'andhousing means 206 is connected to the uppertsection 204,as in a manner similar to the preceding embodiment, by means permitting it to pivot about the'longitudinal, vertical axis oftheunit. A bracket 220; projecting rear-wardly and upwardly from the lower secfor steering purposes as in previous tion 218 is provided form of the invention. e In ,this modified form of the invention it is preferred that-the unit be mounted'to swing from its normal position to a'retracted position in which it extends directly upwardly'as-shown by dotted lines in Figure 10. In this way the retracted unit does not project unduly reanwardly from the'boat and present an unnecessary obstruction to convenient-handling and transporting of the'boat as do conventional outboard motors in retracted position. I claim as my invention: I .7 Lin combination, a boat'having an inboard engine and having a :stern transom, and a' retracting outboard propulsion'unit driven by said engine, said unit comprising a mounting base adapted to be fixedly mounted on the exterior face of thefboat 'trarisom elongatedupropeller support and drive: housing means having normally upperanda lower sectionsinterconnected by'means permitting;

rotation of the lower section relative to the upper section about :the longitudinalaxis 0f said means, "a propeller rotatively mounted on the lower section of said means, propeller drive means extending through said support and housing meansf-rorn the upper section thereof tozsaid 210 parallel to the engine shaft 203.

tudinal boat axis between normal propeller, said drive' means including a transmission shaft extending coaxially 'within said support and housing means, said drive means further including a drive member mounted in the upper section of said support and housingmeans for rotation therein about an axis extending generally longitudinally of the boat and transversely to the length of said support and housing means, said drive 7 member being connected to the boat engine for rotation thereby, means coaxial with said drive member pivotally mounting said support and housing means by .the upper section thereof on said mounting base to permit swinging of said latter means relative tosaid base about said longiposition of said latter means projecting downwardly from said base to dispose said propeller. in its operative position, and upraised retracted position of said latter means disposing the propeller materially above means on said lower section adapted for turning of the same about said longitudinal support and housing means. axis for steering the boat, said steering means comprising a rigid member fixed to the lower section of the support and housing means to project generally rearwardly therefrom, anda pivoted memberconnected to the projecting end of said rigidirnemberto pivot thereon about an axis in thevicinity ofand parallel to the axis ofiswing of said support and housing means, and remotely controlled steerswinging independently of operation of said retracting means in response to; extraordinary force applied'transversely to thelower section of said support and housing me ns 7 3; The combination defined in claim 2 wherein the retracting means comprises remotely controlledpower operated means operable to effect such swinging, detent means cooperating with said power operated means to hold said' supportand housing means in its normal position, said detent means including an element actuatable for releasing the samerS i d power operated means including lost motion means in the connection thereof to the support and housing means and operable to actuate said detent means element for release of said detent means during initial operation of said power operated means,- and preliminary to final operation thereof, in the sense to retract said support and housing means thereby. e

4. retracting outboard propulsion unit for a boat having an inboard engine and having a stern transom, said unit .comprisinga mounting base adapted to be fixedly mounted on'the exterior face of the boat transom, elongated propeller support anddr ive housing means having normally upper and lower sections interconnected by meansrpermitting rotation of the lower section relative to the upper section about the longitudinal axis of said means, a propeller rotatively mounted on the lower section'of said means, propeller drive means extending through said support and housing means from the upper section thereof to said propeller, said drive means including a transmissionlshaft extending coaxially within said support and housing means: said drive means further 7 including a drive member mounted in .the upper sectron of said support and housing meansfor rotation therein about a generally horizontal axis disposed transversely V to the length of said support'and housing means, said drive member being adapted for connection to the boat englne for rotationthereby,means coaxial With said drive member pivotally mounting said support and housing its operative position, steering '91 means by the upper section thereof on said mounting base to permit swinging of said latter means relative, to said base about said horizontal axis between normal position of said latter means projecting downwardly from said base to dispose said propeller in its operative position, and upraised retracted position of said latter means disposing the propeller materially above its operative position, and steering means on said lower section adapted for turning of the same about said longitudinal support and housing means axis for steering the boat, said steering means comprising a rigid member fixed to the lower section of the support and housing. means to project generally rearwardly therefrom, and a pivoted member connected to the projecting end of said rigid member to pivot thereon about an axis substantially coincident with the axis of swing of said support and housing means, said pivoted member being adapted for connection to remote control steering mechanism on the boat.

5. A retracting outboard propulsion unit for a boat having an inboard engine and having a stern transom, said unit comprising a mounting base adapted to be fixedly mounted on the exterior face of the boat transom, elongated propeller support and drive housing means having normally upper and lower sections interconnected by means permitting rotation of the'lower section relative to the upper section about the longitudinal axis of said means, a propeller rotatively mounted on the lower section of said means, propeller drive means extending through said support and housing means from the upper section thereof to said propeller, said drive means including a transmission shaft extending coaxially within said support and housing means, said drive means further including a drive member mounted in the upper section of said support and housing means for rotation therein about a generally horizontal axis disposed transversely to the length of said support and housing means, said drive member being adapted for connection to the boat engine for rotation thereby, means coaxial with said drive member pivotally mounting said support and housing means by the upper section thereof on said mounting base to permit swinging of the latter means relative to said base about said horizontal axis between normal position of said latter means projecting downwardly from said base to dispose said propeller in its operative position, and upraised retracted position of said latter means disposing the propeller materially above its operativeposition, and steering means on said lower section adapted for turning of the same about said longitudinal support and housing means axis for steering the boat, said steering means comprising a rigid member fixed to the lower section of the support and housing means to project generally rearwardly therefrom, and a pivoted member connected to i the projecting end of said rigid member to pivot thereon about an axis in the vicinity of and parallel to the axis of swing of said support and housing means, said pivoted member being adapted for connection to remote control steering mechanism on the boat.

6. In combination, a retracting outboard propulsion unit having a lower end portion including propeller means, an upper end portion, and means on the upper end portion adapted for pivotally mounting the unit on a boat transom in a normal depending operative position while permitting upward tilting of said unit into retracted position with the propeller relatvely elevated above its normal position, power operated means operatively connected to said unit and adapted to move the same between positions, and detent means cooperating with said power operated means to hold said unit in its normal position, said detent means including an element actuatable for releasing the same, said power operated means including means in the connection thereof to said unit and operable to actuate said detent means element for release of said detent means in response to initiation of movementof said power operated means in the direction to retract the unit, thereby to release said unit to permit effecting retraction thereof boat engine, and remote control means adapted for con-,

trolling application of vacuum pressure to said jack.

8. The combination defined in claim 6, wherein the unit comprises an annular surface coaxial with the tilt axis of the unit, and the connection of the power operated meansto the unit further comprises a clamp member encircling and frictionally engaging said annular surface and adapted to be rotated about said axis by operation of said power operated means, thereby to tilt the unit, said clamp member being held by the detent means against rotation with the unit in its operative position and when so held being adapted by friction to hold said unit in its operative position against normal operating forces tending to displace the same therefrom, but to slip relative to said annular surface in response to extraordinary forces tending to produce retraction of said unit.

9. The combination defined in claim 6, and yieldable coupling means interposed in the connection of the power operated means to the unit and including a coupling element normally held by the detent means in a fixed position, thereby to maintain the unit in its normal operative position against the normal operating forces tending to displace the same from such normal position, while being adapted to yield to permit upward tilting of the unit, independently of the power operated means, in reaction to extraordinary forces tending to produce retraction of such unit.

10. A retracting outboard propulsion unit for a boat having an inboard engine and having a stern transom, said unit comprising a mounting base adapted to be fixedly mounted on the exterior face of the boat transom, elongated propeller support and drive housing means having normally upper and lower ends, a propeller rotatively mounted on the lower end of said means, pro peller drive means extending through said support and housing means from the upper end thereof to said propeller, said drive means including a drive member mounted in the upper end of said support and housing means for rotation therein about an axis extending generally longitudinally of the boat transversely to the length of said support and housing means, said drive member being adapted for connection to the boat engine for rotation thereby, means coaxial with said drive member pivot ally mounting said support and housing means by the upper end thereof on said mounting base to permit swinging of said latter means relative to said base about said axis between normal position of said latter means projecting downwardly from said base to dispose said propeller in its operative position, and upraised retracted position of said latter means disposing the propeller materially above its operative position, and power operated means connected to the normally upper end of the support and housing means for swinging the same between its normal and retracted positions, detent means cooperating with said power operated means to hold said support and housing means in its normal position, said detent means including an element actuatable for releasing 11 end portionadapted for pivotally mounting the unit on a boat transom in a normal depending operative positionwhile permitting upward tilting of said unit into retracted position with the propeller relativelyelevated above its normal position, a lever. arm' on the unit for tilting the same, power operated means operatively connected to saidunit' through the leverrarm and adapted to move the same betweenpositions, said power operated means comprising afluid-operated jack comprising cooperating cylin der and piston members, one such member being connected tocthe lever arm and the other such member being adapted for connection to the boat, and means for conducting operating fluid to and from said cylinder memher, and detent means cooperating with said power operatedmeans to hold said unit in its normal position, saiddetent means including an element actuatable for re- =14.-The unit defined in claim 13, wherein the releas able means comprises an annular member mounted on the upper end of the support and housing means coaxial with thelatters pivotaxis, anannular friction member frictionally' engaging said annular member, an'dpositioning means adapted tfor holding the friction member in predetermined position. t a V v 15.. The unit defined in claim 14, wherein the'positioning means comprises a fluid-operated jack, an operating connection between said jack and said friction them her to permit rotationthereof by operation of saidjack, thereby to ra ise'and lower the supportv and drive housing means, detent means engageable to hold the friction mem ber in a position corresponding to the operative position of the unit and means'to release said detent, said release -n1eans being arranged for actuation by initial movement leasing the same, and means in the connection thereof to said-unit and operable to actuate said detent. means element for releasing of said detent means in response to initiation'of movement of: said power operated means in the direction to retract the 'unit', thereby to release said unit to permit effecting retraction thereof by further movet ment of said power operated means in the same direction.

12. The combination defined in claim 11, wherein the detent means element normally engages and holds the lever arm in the position thereof corresponding to the normal operating position of the unit, and wherein the means operable to actuate the detent means comprises a link member pivotally interconnecting the first jack T116111. her and the lever arm and swingable relative to both between predetermined limits relative thereto, said link member having a portion disposed to actuate said detent means element to release said detent means and thereby the lever arm accompanying initial swinging of said link member during operation of the jack in the sense to raise said unit to its retracted position.

13. A retracting outboard propulsion unit for a boat having a stern transom, said unit comprising a mounting base adapted to be mounted on the exterior face of the boat transom, elongated propeller support and drive housing means having normally upper and lower ends, a propeller rotatively mounted on the lower end of said means, propeller drive means extending through said means from the upper end thereof to said propeller, means pivotally mounting said support and drive housing means by the upper end thereof on said mounting base to pivot on said base about an axis parallel to' the longitudinal axis .of the boat, thereby to permit transverse swinging of said support and housing means relative to said base about said axis between normal position of said tlatter means projecting downwardly from said base. to dispose said propeller in its operative position, and upraised retracted position thereof disposing the propellertmaterially above its operative position, and releasable means normally holding said support and housing means in its normal position, said releasable means including slip coupling means permitting forcible retraction movement of said support and housing means about said axis by extraordinary force applied thereto while holding such latter means against retraction movement under normal operating forces applied thereto. I

' and housing means comprises upper and lower sections interconnected by means permitting rotation of the lower section relative to the upper section about the longitudinal axis of said support and housing means, and steering means on said lower section adapted for turning of the same about the latter axis for steering the boat, said steering means comprising a rigid member fixed to the lower section, and a turnable member connected to said rigid member and adapted to turn with relation thereto about the axis of swing of the support and housing'means duringretrac'tionjofthe latter, and remotely controlled steering mechanism-operatively connected to said rigid members through said turnable member to effect steering of theboat-by-turning of said lower section. V

7 17. The unit defined in claim 16, and retracting means connected to the support and housing means through the releasable means, said retracting means comprising remotely controlled power operated means operable to effect vsuch swinging, detent means cooperating with said power operated means to hold said support and housing means of saididetent mea'ns during initial operation of said' power operated means,fand preliminary to final operation thereofi'in the sense to 'r'et ract said support and housing ma r e a i j References Cited inthe file ofthis patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS Svendsenet a1. Sept. 20, 1932 he. 178L602 4 32,061- Svendsen et a1. -t Nov. 17.; 1931 1,845,712 Jacques j L' Feb. 16,1932 12,409,762.- J ai1es' V v- Oct. 22, 1946 1,604,797 Peregrine July 29, 1952 2,752,875 i11s-: t July 3, 195.6.- f fF R GN PATENTS f teat Britain Aug. 14, 193 9 

